Imagine a manufacturing facility in which orders were fulfilled more accurately and faster. What if, with a click, you could track inventory down to the exact location in the warehouse? Here’s another scenario: when a piece of equipment breaks down, a sensor alerts an engineer that it needs to be repaired. These scenes aren’t something out of a science fiction movie or book. Today’s mobile technologies are making these scenarios a reality. Read on to learn more about how mobile technologies are making the manufacturing industry more efficient and effective.
Improved Communication
Mobile technologies make communication nearly instantaneous. Instead of waiting hours or days to learn the answer to a question or to gain vital information, employees receive the data they need quickly.
For example, a salesperson in the field might need to provide a quote to a customer. A call, a text, or a chat message through a mobile device to the right person at the company can yield results quickly, and the salesperson might even be able to close the sale before leaving the customer’s office.
One of the newest forms of mobile technologies, wearables, can also enhance communication. For instance, an employee on the warehouse floor needs to view plans or blueprints. He can tell his smart glasses to display the information he needs. An added bonus is that his hands are free the entire time, so he can continue working while looking at the plans or blueprints.
Greater Transparency Leads to Greater Customer Satisfaction
No one can afford to wait for an item that’s mission-critical. Today’s customers want to know the status of their order in real time. Mobile technologies make that possible.
Inventory tracking systems deployed on mobile devices enable warehouse employees to pinpoint the status of an order. They no longer have to guess or rely on potentially inaccurate paper records. Customers experience peace of mind knowing that their order is on its way.
A More Efficient Manufacturing Process
How long does it take to manufacture a single item? Mobile technologies can give you deeper insights into the manufacturing process to make it more efficient.
Sensors inside equipment can communicate how quickly (or slowly) the process is moving. With that data, managers can decide what tweaks to make to the process to improve productivity and output without increasing costs.
The aforementioned inventory tracking system can also increase efficiencies. Let’s say that part of what’s holding up the manufacturing process is difficulty in locating the right parts for a product. Maybe the parts are not always where they’re supposed to be in the warehouse, or they’re frequently out of stock. An inventory tracking system tells employees exactly where those parts are and when they need to be re-ordered, so delays are reduced if not eliminated.
Mobile technology developers and vendors have realized that their products and services can add enormous value to the manufacturing industry. To that end, they have created rugged mobile devices with built-in security controls. The only decision manufacturers must make is to determine which solution best meets their needs.
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